Trainer Keiran Burke could switch Hunt Ball to Cheltenham next weekend as he attempts to give his stable star some more match practice.

The intention had been for the eight-year-old to run in a chase at Taunton on Saturday, but the Somerset track's valuable meeting fell victim to the snow.

After marching right through the handicap scale with seven victories last season, including at the Cheltenham Festival, owner Anthony Knott is keen to get the eight-year-old to the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup.

After being pulled up on his return in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, Hunt Ball ran far better when second in the rescheduled Peterborough Chase at Kempton late last month.

"I'm looking through for options, but I would say the two-and-a-half-mile handicap at Cheltenham (Murphy Group Chase) would be the most likely one at the moment," said Burke.

"There's Ascot next month, but I'm keen to get a run into him as soon as possible."